Minor Parties Might Win Legislative Seats in 5 States

It is quite possible that minor parties could win state legislative seats in 5 states this year.

In Indiana, Rex Bell, a Libertarian, is in virtually a 3-person tie with his Democratic and Republican opponents in the 54th district, according to a poll paid for by the Libertarian Party.

In Maine, Representative John Eder, a Green, is in a 2-person race in the 118th district, and Eder is likely to be re-elected.

In Montana, Rick Jore, of the Constitution Party, is in a 2-person race and is likely to defeat the incumbent Democrat who defeated him two years ago (in 2004, there was a Republican in the race also).

In Utah, Ed McGarr, of the Constitution Party, is in a 2-person race with a Republican, in the 58 district in Orem. The Republican candidate defeated the incumbent Republican in the primary. The incumbent has now endorsed McGarr. Furthermore, some financial improprieties committed by the winner of the Republican primary are coming to light. McGarr is advertising on the radio.

In Vermont, the Progressive Party is virtually certain to win at least five or six seats, and will probably will more. Also in Vermont, 5 Libertarians also won the Republican primary and odds are good that at least one of them will win.

New York State Ballot Order

New York state uses a party-column or party-row type of ballot. The order of parties on November 7 will be: Republican, Democratic, Independence, Conservative, Working Families, Green, Libertarian, Rent is Too Damn High/Socialist Equality, and Socialist Workers.

The old-fashioned lever machines only have 9 columns or 9 rows, so the Board has put the Rent is Too Damn High Party (which only has nominees for Governor & Lt. Gov.) in the same column/row as the Socialist Equality Party (which only has a candidate for US Senate).

This is the last year New York or any other state will be using old-fashioned mechanical voting machines.